Dr. Keyes is heavily involved in research and studies related to data collection and patient safety. He is double board certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Keyes is a renowned international lecturer on safety during surgery.

A news story reported in AOL news talked about how a woman had succumbed to her death after receiving silicone injections by non-physicians. A lot of such incidents have recently been reported where patients have ended up being hurt, or worse have lost their lives owing to malpractice and/or misrepresentations by non physicians. This is one of the biggest problems surrounding plastic surgery that a lot of people who want work done to improve their appearance often view going to the plastic surgeon as equivalent to going to the hair dresser. However, the two are very different from each other. Plastic surgery procedures involve a lot of skill, technique and should only be performed after the surgeon has undergone years of training and practice. A procedure has the potential to change one’s appearance for the better or the worse and hence such a plastic surgery procedure should be approached with care. It is imperative that a patient be very careful while choosing a plastic surgeon due to the importance of training in such procedures. It is advised that patients do their due diligence and look out for board certified plastic surgeons that are qualified and have had enough practice and expertise in the procedure they are looking to get done.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Baxter admits that liposuction has gone from convenient to confusing. Patients now have a variety of liposuction procedures and techniques to choose from –and the correct choice is not always clear.

True, some basics haven’t changed. During virtually all liposuction procedures, the surgeon is careful to numb the surgical site with an injection of a lidocaine-epinephrine mixture. This is known as the “tumescent” technique – it expands and firms the target area so that the patient is much less likely to experience bleeding during the operation.

But, as Dr. Baxter admits, the techniques have expanded to include methods beyond the basic suction style, and today’s customers could easily be seduced by marketing phrases.

“It used to be that there was liposuction, and now it’s brand-name liposuction in a whole variety of flavors,” Dr. Baxter says.

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He cites ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, laser-assisted liposuction and even a water-assisted method that is said to be gentler than the others.

“Just plain old liposuction is still a pretty viable way to go for most people,” he says. “You don’t really need to go for a brand name with it.”

But, whatever the patient chooses, a wise first step is to shop around and not be lured by the appeal of branding. Dr. Baxter advises consulting a surgeon who regularly performs liposuction. “I would suggest, go to a board certified plastic surgeon, because they’re going to be in a good position to know whether liposuction or even something else entirely is the way to go.”

Also, Dr. Baxter advises actually meeting the person who will be performing the surgery prior to an operation. This happens to be more uncommon than it sounds.

“We’re seeing a lot of clinics now where the model is, you’re meeting with basically a salesperson who is making a clinical decision about whether or not you’re a good liposuction candidate. And, of course, you’re always a good candidate for it if you’re the person in front of them.”